New Real Food Guidelines Align with Chiropractic Nutrition Advice

By Michael Dorausch, D.C.

Have you seen the new food pyramid in the US? The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasize eating real, whole, nutrient-dense foods (such as high-quality proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats) while avoiding highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and added sugars.

It sounded remarkably like what we were taught in chiropractic school, so I checked my old notes to confirm. I found a 1980s text by Dr. Franco Columbu (we attended the same school) in which he highlights the curriculum from his 500 hours of chiropractic nutrition classes.

Franco Columbu’s book, while focused on bodybuilding, promotes similar principles through whole-food-based diets and warnings against processed items. Here are 7 alignments, with references from the book:

1. Prioritizing High-Quality Protein from Whole Sources: The book stresses protein from eggs, fish, and lean meats as essential for muscle building, e.g., “Eggs and fish [are] high-quality protein” and recommends them as mainstays in diets. This aligns with RealFood.gov’s call to prioritize nutrient-dense proteins like eggs, seafood, and poultry.
2. Carbohydrates from Fruits and Vegetables: Columbu advises carbs primarily from fresh produce, such as “Carbohydrates came primarily from fresh fruits and vegetables” and eating grapes or apples before exercise for energy. This matches RealFood.gov’s emphasis on colorful, nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables as carb sources.
3. Avoiding Added Sugars and Sugary Foods: The book warns against “sugar-loaded foods such as candy and pastry” and eliminates them from diets, noting they contribute to fat gain. RealFood.gov similarly advises “no amount of added sugars” is recommended, especially for children, and to avoid sugary drinks and treats.
4. Avoiding Highly Processed Foods: Columbu criticizes processed snacks and “wonder foods” like protein powders, calling them “dead protein” with low absorption and advising to avoid “crunchy snacks wrapped in cellophane paper or plastic bags”. Similar to RealFood.gov’s guidance to avoid ultra-processed, packaged foods high in additives, sodium, and unhealthy fats.
5. Incorporating Whole Grains: Diets include brown rice and whole wheat bread as carb sources, and noting whole grains’ protein value. RealFood.gov prioritizes fiber-rich whole grains over refined ones.
6. Healthy Fats from Whole Foods in Moderation: The book keeps fats low but from sources like nuts, seeds, and avocados, e.g., snacks of “nuts, seeds” and avoiding high-fat meats. This aligns with RealFood.gov’s recommendation for healthy fats from whole foods like nuts, seeds, avocados, and full-fat dairy (though the book limits dairy for getting lean).
7. Focus on Whole, Minimally Processed Foods: Overall diets emphasize fresh, simple meals like “Fish cooked any way, except fried; Vegetables; Salad”, with warnings against food processing losses. RealFood.gov defines “real food” as whole or minimally processed, recognizable items without additives.

Mention of Avoiding Plastics

Franco’s book mentions avoiding plastics in the context of processed snacks “avoid potato chips, French fries, and all crunchy snacks wrapped in cellophane paper or plastic bags.” Even more to be avoided as evil demons were sugar-loaded foods such as candy and pastry.

This was over 40 years ago folks, looks like the chiropractors were correct once again.